How to Learn to Speak a Language

If you want to learn to speak a language (that's not your native language), first you need to know some words to say...

The best way I know to learn some words to say is to listen to a foreign language.

There are lots of ways to do it...

I like to watch DVDs and TV in that foreign language. That way I don't have to say anything to anyone unless I feel like talking to myself...

If you are using DVDs, you can turn on the subtitles in English or whatever language you are most comfortable with.

For me it's the more enjoyable of all the possible options...

Keep in mind when you're listening to a foreign language, you're also learning how to pronounce it correctly which isn't a bad thing...

And that's only going to make it easier to learn to speak a language...

Other options are listening to live people speaking the foreign language you want to learn...unfortunately sometimes they might expect you to say something back...

Which means you have to either enjoy fumbling around for something to say or be the sort of person that isn't bothered when they make a mistake.

I don't know many people like that...

If you're one of them, you will most likely learn to speak a language in record time.

And if you're not comfortable making mistakes...

Do whatever you can to get comfortable making mistakes because it will speed up the learning process like you wouldn't believe.

And if you're not sure...

It's also OK to make mistakes trying to get comfortable making mistakes ;)

If you're planning on listening to live people, I'd do my best to make sure everyone understands that you are still learning their foreign language...

Other ways to listen to a foreign language...

An audio book and a copy of the written book...preferably something that you have read in your native language first...

And something that is interesting!

There are probably other ways that I've never considered...

These are the ones that I like and have used the most... they are also the methods that have worked the best when I was learning to understand spoken French, German, Swiss German, and Alsatian.

I've noticed that somewhere in the process of learning to understand a spoken language, you start to remember words and expressions.

In fact, sometimes things just seem to be the right thing to say and I have no idea why...

They just pop into your head...

It's kind of strange but in an enjoyable way!

And that's when speaking a foreign language is going to get a lot easier than it would have been if you had jumped straight into reading and memorizing expressions.

But if reading and memorizing words is fun for you...

Go for it!

And while we're on the subject of How to Learn to Speak a Language (other than your own)...

If you've got a question or something to say about "How to Learn to Speak a Language (other than your own)" or anything else, you can talk about it here...

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And tell us a little bit about you, where you are living, how you got there or anything you'd like to tell us about yourself here...

Looking forward to hearing from you...

Suzanne

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